A Guide to Ovens and Hobs
Ovens and hobs add an elegant, modern look to any kitchen and can be neatly integrated into your worktops and kitchen units. Shop our full range of ovens and hobs now.
Electric hobs are heated by different looking cooking rings, which can range from four to six power levels. They may take a few minutes to warm up before cooling down.
Hobs of different types
Each home is incomplete without the kitchen hob, range cooker or stovetop (the latter being a complete kitchen appliance where you can roast and bake food items). It is used to cook many different meals, and as such, it's important that you choose the right type of hob to suit your cooking style. If you're a master chef who values precision or a busy family cook who wants speed, there's a hob to suit your requirements.
Induction and electric ceramic stoves are frameless and flat and add to the sleek appearance of any kitchen. They come with five or four cooking zones, each of which is independent of each other by a dial. This allows you to choose of boiling potatoes on one ring while sautéing sausages in another which is ideal for busy families. They heat up quickly and their smooth surface makes them easy to clean. They can be more expensive than gas hobs, and they might take longer to heat up and cool down.
Gas hobs offer instant heat and permit precise control, making them popular with chefs. They're also safe and come with built-in flame fail safety systems that cut off gas flow if there is a leak. They may be less efficient than electric or induction hobs. They are also more difficult to clean due the fact of the pan supports and stove burners.
Plate hobs have been around for a long time. They have a flat-topped top with electric or gas rings that heat when you turn the dial. They're economical, but not ideal for cookware made of cast iron and do not evenly distribute heat across the entire surface.
Induction hobs are able to heat your pan directly, instead of heating the surface of the traditional hobs. They are safer since there's no open flame. They're also easy to clean. They're also more expensive and take longer to cool and heat than gas or electricity hobs.
Gas hobs
Gas hobs are a common choice among home cooks because of their fast heating capabilities as well as their ease of control. You will typically find models with between two and six burners. Some models have a wok-burner designed for stir-fry cooking. Some stoves have a visible indicator that informs you if the burner is on or not.
They heat food quicker than induction or electric models and are therefore ideal for busy kitchens. They can be cheaper to run than electric hobs, if you use electricity generated by renewable energy sources.
You can choose between built-in or freestanding gas hobs. The former are the better choice if you're planning to remodel your kitchen as they are easy to move later. However, they are difficult to install and may require hacking into your final carpentry, which isn't suitable for all homes.
Freestanding models have a flat, smooth surface which makes them easier to clean than other kinds of hobs. They often feature sleek stainless steel trims, that can blend in with many kitchen designs. Certain models come with touchscreen controls, and some even feature an energy boost feature that enhances the intensity of the burner by 50%.
Some gas hobs have an automatic safety feature that shuts off the gas supply when the flame goes out. This way, you don't have to worry about accidentally starting an fire. Gas hobs are generally less expensive to run than electric ones, and they permit precise temperature control.
Gas hobs release carbon dioxide when they burn. This can be a problem for environmentally conscious customers. There are models that do not emit CO2 when in use. These 'zero-emission gas hobs,' or eco-friendly gas stoves' have all the features of a traditional gas stove, but emits no CO2.
Electric hobs
A favorite option for kitchens of every style electric hobs have a range of advantages over other types of cookers. They are able to heat up and cool down faster than gas hobs, meaning less residual heat is left behind after the cookware is removed. They also heat more consistently and are less susceptible to hot spots than gas models. Being electric, they also require less maintenance and are cheaper to operate than gas.
Most commonly seen in modern kitchens, ceramic or glass electric hobs provide a sleek and stylish appearance that's easy to clean and safe to touch. Their flat surface makes them a preferred choice for parents who have children, as they're unlikely to be scratched or smashed by heavy pans. They're also fairly inexpensive to run and are easily repaired when damaged.
Ceramic hobs heat directly in the pan, in contrast to traditional plate hobs that rely on coils to heat the pan. They can heat and cool quicker and are suitable for any type of cookware. They are usually more expensive than electric stoves, however they can save you money in the long run due to their efficiency.
It's important that you maintain your ceramic or tempered glass cooktop regularly to avoid any problems. Cleaning the cooktop with non-abrasive cleaners is recommended, as well as making sure to replace any malfunctioning heating controls and cleaning out the grates and burner caps regularly. It's also important to keep an eye out for any signs of gas odour, as it could indicate a problem with the gas lines or a gas leak. It is recommended to contact a professional gas technician to assistance if you suspect an issue. To avoid any serious damage ensure that the stove is turned off and cooled down before cleaning. This will also help prevent accidental spills and fires!
Hobs with induction
Induction cookers are an innovative alternative to traditional electric and gas hobs. They use an electric field instead of the cooktop in order to heat the pan. They heat up quicker than other stoves, and will save you energy over time. The cooktop surface is cool to the touch and many models have safety features like automatic shutoff to prevent accidents.
Most induction hobs have an aluminum or glass top and are powered by an alternating current which creates a magnetic field to heat. A pan that is compatible with induction must have a flat bottom as well as a steel or iron core, and the magnetic field only gets activated when the pan is placed in the cooking zone. The majority of hobs have the bridging zone, which can connect two zones to accommodate larger pans.
Induction hobs are known for efficiency. Many report an improvement in their overall energy bills when they change to one. They are also considered to be more secure since the cooktop's surface remains cool to the edge, reducing the risk of burns, and only heating the pan and its contents. This makes them safer for children than electric or gas hobs, which can be extremely hot.
The majority of induction hobs have different types of controls, the most basic being a simple touch mark/power bar that is placed on the surface of the hob, or an entirely functional TFT display that shows all the options, and lets you alter the power levels as well as set timers, and more. Hobs induction that are more sophisticated feature many copper coils of varying sizes that are that are tightly grouped together under the cooktop. The magnet under each coil detects when the pan is positioned. It then activates the coil to fit the pan's shape and size.
All of our ovens and hobs can be purchased as stand-alone models or neatly integrated with your kitchen units to create a seamless and sleek look. Our selection includes everything from sleek stainless steel and black finishes to on-trend ceramic and copper. Make sure to look over our other appliances, too such as dishwashers, refrigerator freezers and washing machines, to get your kitchen running exactly as it should.